:: Network Installation

This section discusses about home/office networking with cable modems.

Office Networking is very common, but today there are networks in homes too. In homes where there are more computers and more than one person working on a computer, the computers are connected through a network to avoid bottlenecks while going online, or when more than one person is printing at the same time.

All the computers have to be connected physically and Internet has to be connected through Cable Modems. The computers could be connected using

• Ethernet the most widely used networking technology.
• Universal Serial Bu - it is easier to use than the Ethernet if your computers already have USB ports.
• Home Phone Line Networking (HPN), useful if computers are scattered in the whole house.
• Wireless networking products, useful while surfing the net from any place in the house using a laptop
• Power-line home-networking products, use power outlets to connect.

There are two technologies that can be used for networking and Internet connection - Wired Networks and Wireless networks. Wired Networks use phone lines, power lines and Ethernet Links.

Phone Line Networks (HPN) are used when connecting computers scattered throughout the house. This uses the home telephone wiring to send data at a different frequency than the voice traffic. It gives a fast link amongst computers (1 to 10 mbps). HPN work better if there are telephone jacks near each computer, which run off the same phone line.

Internal or external network adapters are installed in each PC and printers; other peripherals are shared through a connected PC. Each device is plugged into a phone jack.

This network is very secure as the phone lines are unique to each house, and multiple persons can work at the same time or use the same Internet connection at the same time.

Power Line Network
Power line home networking products use the power outlets in the house to connect the computers and other peripherals. Internal or external network adapters are installed in each PC and all peripherals and printers are shared through a connected PC. Each PC is plugged into a power outlet. This technology is useful when the computers are in different rooms near the power outlets, where bandwidth needs are not high; else they are comparatively slower and noisier.

Ethernet Networking
Ethernet networking is faster than phone lines or power lines and also more secure. They rate at 100 mbps. Ethernet networks are used when computers are in the same room. They are easy to install. All you need is an Ethernet hub; an Ethernet card for each computer, category 5 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cabling. Internal or External network adapters are installed in each computer and peripherals and printers are shared through a connected PC. Then each computer is connected to the Ethernet cabling. The Ethernet hub manages communications over the network. By far it is a better technology than the above two, except when the computers are scattered.

Wireless Networking
Wireless networking uses high frequency radio waves. External adapters are installed on each PC and printers and peripherals are shared through a connected PC. The communication is done through a set of radio frequencies. This technology is not distance bound, so computers don’t have to be in the same room, the transmission range is from 150 to 300 feet.

Installation is easy, and network components can be set anywhere in the house, as these high frequency radio waves travel through walls and windows. Security is also higher.